Winsted-Lester Prairie Journal, June 15, 1998

What Fr. Bob liked about Holy Trinity: 'Everything'

By MAGGIE SCHUETTE-VOSS

Wednesday, June 17 is moving day, as over 20 priests within
the New Ulm diocese will go to their new parishes.

After 15 years, Fr. Bob Wyffels is leaving the Holy Trinity
parish in Winsted. He will be the pastor at St. Michael's parish in Morgan,
Minn., (near Sleepy Eye) and the sacramental minister at St. Joseph's parish
in Clements.

These places are smaller than the Holy Trinity parish.
St. Michael's has about 850 members, and a kindergarten through sixth grade
school with 90 students.

St. Joseph's has about 250 parishioners. Within these smaller
parishes, Fr. Bob is hoping to find more time: time for personal/spiritual
growth, time for personal visits with families, and time to spend in the
elementary classrooms.

Every 10 years, Fr. Bob explained, priests are moved to
a new parish. He was given the gift by the diocese of staying at Holy Trinity
an additional five years.

When it is time to move on, a pastor is allowed to select
the three places he would like to go. A personnel committee makes a recommendation
to Bishop Lucker, who gives the final assignment.

Fr. Bob was fortunate in that Morgan was his first choice.
"Good people and a good Catholic school," he said.

When asked what he is going to miss about Holy Trinity,
there is a catch in his voice when he answers, "everything."

"These are willing people, striving to be a faithful
community. People are always generous and responsive to suggestions,"
he said.

"Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is so
meaningful and more people come to Winsted for confession than any of the
other parishes. I think it's because we have it scheduled right before Mass
and people are much more open to God then," he said.

"When I came to Trinity, I was pleased to find a strong
devotion to the Blessed Mother and people pray the Rosary every day of the
year before Mass."

Without a doubt, "Teaching is the greatest joy,"
Fr. Bob said.

This year was the first time in 38 years he did not teach
so he is looking forward to returning to the classroom in Morgan.

The classroom is where some of Fr. Bob's fondest memories
come from.

"Celebrating school liturgy, going to Valleyfair with
the servers and riding every ride - several times - that's probably the
only time I haven't worn a black suit and Roman collar," he said.

"I enjoyed working with the students, celebrating
first confession and first communion . . . young people express their spirituality
so openly," he said.

The years spent at Holy Trinity has given Fr. Bob many
things to appreciate, the opportunity to be with families in times of sadness
and death, and time spent with the people around him.

"I've enjoyed working with the parish staff, the sisters,
principals and faculty. It's been a joy to work with the parish council,
the different committees, societies and the KCs . . . Holy Trinity has more
Renew groups and living faith groups than any other parish.

"It's been a blessing to have another priest at St.
Mary's Care Center (Fr. Martin Rath, OSB)," Fr. Bob said.

He also recalled the cooperative relationship between himself
and Rev. Robert Voelker, former pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church.

Actually, this will be the second time Fr. Bob leaves Holy
Trinity.

Right after he was ordained, he taught religion at Holy
Trinity Schools from 1960-1961.

He was then principal at Cathedral High School in New Ulm,
followed by 12 years at St. Mary's parish in Sleepy Eye.

"Only three parishes in the diocese have high schools
and I was at all of them," he said.

Moving on to Morgan and Clements continues a ministry that
Fr. Bob was sure of since the second grade. That was when he knew he wanted
to become a priest.

"I felt the Lord calling and I felt this was the best
way to grow in friendship with Him and serve people, to respond to their
personal and spiritual needs," he said.

"Every day I experience this is where the Lord wants
me to be. I have always been a happy priest.

"If I had to start over, I would do exactly the same
thing," Fr. Bob said.